Skip to main content
Chemistry LibreTexts

5.E: Basics of Nuclear Science (Exercises)

  • Page ID
    85517
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    1) Perform a beta emission of Rb-86.

    2) What is the missing piece of this nuclear reaction: n → p + ?

    3) Write a reaction for the decay of Rn-222. Review your ionizing section of your text book to determine the emission path. In addition, how could you shield yourself from the radiation released from this reaction?

    4) You are exposed to radiation that has a wavelength of 50 µm. What is the frequency of this radiation? Where does this radiation appear? Is this radiation ionizing or nonionizing?

    5) What is the difference between the radiation from Uranium and x-rays?

    6) How can you alter a house that tests over the 4pCi level for radon?

    7) Give one crazy application of x-ray science.

    8) Which is the heaviest form of radiation: alpha, beta, or gamma?

    9) Which is the least ionizing form of radiation: alpha, beta, or gamma?

    10) Is your smoke detector radioactive?

    11) Fatman (Nagasaki bomb) used approximately 6.4 kg of Pu-239. This artificially produced isotope (t1/2 = 24,100 years) undergoes alpha decay. How many kg and pounds would remain after three decay processes?

    12) Can one chemically change the half-life of a material?

    13) The t1/2 of As-74 is 18 days, how much of a 160 mg sample remains after 2160 hours?

    14) Write a balance reaction for the decay Ir-192. This isotope undergoes alpha and gamma emission at the same time.

    15) Bi-214 can decay to form Tl-210. Write balanced reaction for this emission process.

    16) When focused from the outside of the body, which type(s) of radiation penetrate(s) the body completely? gamma, proton, x-ray, alpha, or beta

    Solutions

    Chapter5hwoerpage1.jpg chapter5hwoerpage2.jpg

    Chapter5hwoerpage3.jpg


    This page titled 5.E: Basics of Nuclear Science (Exercises) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Elizabeth Gordon.

    • Was this article helpful?